Football: Kinnear in shock Newcastle return

Former Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear on Sunday confirmed he is returning to the club as director of football.

The 66-year-old left Newcastle in 2009 after suffering a heart attack.

He was only in charge for six months, leaving in April 2009 just before the club were relegated from the Premier League.

"It's an interesting role for myself and I don't think I could be at a better club to do it," Kinnear told Sky Sports News.

Kinnear insists he is returning to the club to help manager Alan Pardew achieve success, not to undermine the position of a man who signed an eight-year contract extension last September.

"Alan's aware of the situation and I'm hoping to meet Alan sometime on Monday to go through the team itself and where it's glaringly clear we need to be improve," said Kinnear, who has also managed Wimbledon and Nottingham Forest.

"That will be my job, to find and buy these players. I'm not picking the team, that's what the manager gets paid for. I'm there solely to see he gets the best possible team on the pitch."